Ice tray construction



4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

FIVE V51 H. E. KNUPP ICE TRAY CONSTRUCTION F TT I Dec. 27, 1949 Filed April 18, l9 46 Dec 1949 H. E. KNUPP 2,492,583

ICE TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E E INVENTOR.

Dec. 27, 1949 H- E. KNUPP ICE TRAY CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1946 I N V EN TOR. fl r/iy I. K? a /7 7 /VEV 27, 1949 KNUPP 2,492,583

ICE 'TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 U NITED STATES ?ATE;NT1 '0 FFICE Ion: TRAY oons'rnuczrron Harry E. Knapp, Detroit, Mich. Application April 1.8, 1946, serial No.. 663,005

The present invention relates to improvements in trays, particularly of the type used in domestic refrigerators.

The primary object of the present invention relates to improvements in. ice trays. and grid assemblies whereby the. individual. ice cubes may be more readily removed from the: trays than in prior constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in ice tray and grid assemblies in which theice cubes may be readily removed without removing the grid from the tray;

A further object of the invention is to pro.- vide improvements in ice tray and grid assemblies in which a selected number of individual ice cubes may be readilyremoved from the tray without the necessity of removing all of the cubes from the tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in ice tray and grid assemblies. in which the ice cubes'are readily separated from; the grid partitions and moved to positions for selected removal from the trays.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings in which like mnnerals are used to designate like parts in the several" views throughout:

Fig. I is a top plan view of an ice tray and. grid assembly embodying features of" the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of Fig. I and of Fig. 2 and showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a tray and grid assembly illustrating a modified form thereof;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a portion of another modified form of tray and grid assembly embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line H-H of Fig. 10,

T mains. (Cl. 62-4085) Fig. 121s across-sectional view taken substantially along the line. l2f2 of Fig. I0;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line |3--l,i3 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 14 is, a. partial separated perspective view. of the elements making up the central partition means inthe embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to I3.

Referring to. Figs. I through 5., one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The structune to which the present invention relates comprises a sheet metal tray generally indicated at til which, is adapted to be inserted in the freezing' compartment; of a domestic refrigerator. The tray IB' is formed with a bottom It a rear wall l2, a front wall. i3, and side walls. M. The side walls l4 preferably taper outwardly as best, shown in Fig. 3 and join the bottom wall ll' through a curved corner. The upper edges of the front, rear: and side walls are preferably turned. outwardly and downwardly to form a. rounded edge or rib around the tray.

A metal grid assembly enerally indicated at [5 is disposed within the tray lit. Such grid assembly comprises a plurality of laterally disposed partition members l.6 which, when in assembled relation, are disposed within the tray H1 at longitudinally spaced points. Each partition l6 has a contour complementary to. that of the contour of the inside surface. of the tray HI; oppositely disposed slots I! are formed in pairs through the side ribs of the tray at proper intervals therealong. Each partition Hi is. formed with an outturned. extension [8 of opposite ends thereof and such extensions H!- are adapted to be received within the slots H to properly locate. and position the partitions it.

Each grid assembly it also. includes a means. which forms a longitudinal central partition, and in the present embodiment such partition means is formed of a plurality of separate wall memhers is; Each partition member i9, with the exception of the central one, is formed with an; upstanding projection 29 on the upper edge thereof which is formed with an opening 21' therethrough. Each partition member [9 is also formed with an upwardly tapering edge indicated at 22, the purpose of such tapering edge being to permit limited longitudinal movement of the partition member about its pivot within the space between adjacent members It to effect a separation of the ice cubes. from the partition members and to facilitate removal of the ice. cubes; The central partition leis formed slightly 7 differently from the other members in that the the bar 25. The partition members IS, with the exception of the central partition member, are pivotally connected to the rod by means of pivot pins 29 passed through the openings 2| with the ends supported in transverse openings formed in the rod member 25, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The central partition member I9 is also positioned within the slot 26 and the projection 23 thereof extends upwardly through a slot formed in the rod 25, with the cam slot 24 extending above the rod 25. An operating handle 3 I, which may be formed of a sheet metal stamping generally U-shaped in cross section, is positioned above the rod member 25 and extends from the center thereof toward and beyond the front edge l3 of the tray. The lever 3| has depending side portions 32 which are pivotally connected to the rod 25 by means of pivot screws 33, as best shown in Fig. 3. The central partition member I!) is connected to the operating lever 3| by means of a transverse pin 36 which is fixed to the opposite depending walls 32 of the operating lever and which passes through the cam slot 24. The shape of the depending arms 32 and the location of the pin 38 is such that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the pin 36 is located upwardly and to one side of a vertical plane through pivots 33 and engages in one end of the slot 24.

The transverse partition members l5 are formed with central openings 31 therethrough and in communication with the top edge through an open slot so that the partition members may be passed over the round rod member 25. The parts are so assembled that the partitions 16 are disposed between adjacent central partition member l9. It will be appreciated that the rod member 25 may pivot within the openings 31 in either direction laterally as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 5. With the grid l5 in its assembled relation, it is positioned within the tray II by means of pivot screws 38 which are threaded through openings in the front and rear walls of the tray II with the ends of the pins 38 projecting within the open ends of bore 21.

The lever 3| extends forwardly of the front edge l3 and has a spring clamp 39 pivotally 0011-. nected to the end thereof by means of a pivot pin 40. The clamp 39 serves several purposes. One, to locate the lever 3| in the position shown in Fig. 2; and two to free the tray ID from the bottom wall of the freezing compartment when it is desired to remove the tray from the refrigerator. In order to serve the first function, a pair of spaced brackets 4| are fixed to the front wall l3 and are provided with a transverse pin 42 therebetween. The clamp 39 is formed with a closed loop 43 having a cam edge 44 which bears against and springs under the pin 42 when the parts are in the locked position shown in Fig. 2. The pin 42 is located to one side of the vertical through pin and the length of the clamp 33 is such that the corner indicated at 45 follows a downward arc as the clamp is moved to its released position shown in broken lines in Fig. l. When the loop 43 is thus pulled outwardly, the edge 45 strikes against the bottom of the freezing compartment and raises the bottom of the tray [0 from engagement with the refrigerator Wall so that the tray is loosened therefrom and can be easily removed.

In the use of the device above-described, assuming that the tray is full of frozen ice cubes with the tray removed from the refrigerator, the clamp 39 is released and the lever 3i moved past a vertical position about pivots 33, to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the lever is thus moved, the pin 36 moves along the cam slot 24 until it engages the opposite end of the slot. The first action is to move the central partition members longitudinally to break it free of engagement with the ice cubes and as the end edges move, they engage the facing surfaces of adjacent partition members l6. Further movement of the arm 3| in the same direction will effect a slight longitudinal movement of the rod 25, the effect of which is to cause the other partition members l9 to pivot about their pivots 29 so that they are shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4. This breaks those partition members free of engagement with their ice cubes. With the lever 3| in the raised position, the rod 25 may then be pivoted about pivots 38 to swing the partition members I9 laterally in either direction. As these partition members are thus swung in either direction, the ice cubes on that side of the direction in which the partitions are being swung will be forced out and upwardly of the ice compartments to positions above the edges of the tray. They are then free from the walls and may be selectively picked off. If it is desired to remove the entire contents of the tray, the partitions are then swung in the opposite direction to raise the ice cubes on the opposite side. If it is only desired to remove a few of the cubes, the partitions l9 may be moved to their original position in which event the cubes not removed will drop back to their original positions. 7

Referring to Figs. 6 through 9, a modified form of the invention is illustrated. The ice tray l0 and the longitudinal partitions it are the same as those discussed above in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 through 5. The partitioning means comprises a plurality of sections 50a, 59b, and 500. Each of such sections 58a, 50b, and 500 is formed with slots 5m, 5| b, and 5|c, respectively. These slots are such a width as to receive the partition members l5 therein. The slots are of a depth substantially equal to the depth of the partition members it up to the bottom of openings 31 therein. The upper continuous edges of sections 50a, 58b, and 550 are received within a slot 52 formed in a longitudinally extending pivot rod 53. The rod 53 is generally the same as the rod 25 in the embodiment abovedescribed and is similarly connected to the tray It for pivotal movement with respect thereto. Openings or bores of different Widths as indicated at 54a and 54b are formed in the member 53 throughout the length thereof. The widths are slightly different for each of the sections 50a, 50b, and. 550. The purpose of this construction is that when the rod 53 is pivoted to eject the ice cubes, the sections 50a, 56b, and 550 will act in succession so that the force is only being applied to loosen a few of the ice cubes at one time.

In order to so pivot the central partitions, the

handle 3% is cormectcdto a'lug 5.5 which is fixed to the rod 53- centrally thereof by. moving the handle 3| to its vertical position about pivot 56s. The handle may then be swung to either side. which causes the rodu53 to pivot. Asthe rod It pivots, the. sides of the slots; 54a, 54b, and 540 engage the upper edges. of their respective sections to cause such. sections topivot about the edges. of openings 31;. The ejecting action on. the ice cubes: is the same as that described above.

Themanner in which the grid elements maybe assembled is as follows. The sections 59a, 5%, and; 500 are first. positioned within the. slot 52- The partitions I 6 are then positioned around 180 from the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and may be slid over the rod 53 through openings 31. When they reach a position adjacent the proper slot 51a, Slb, or 5 lo, they are. then swung around 180 and it will be appreciated. that when in such position they pass through the slots if a, 51!), or 5lc to the position of assembly shown in Figs. 8 and 9 A slot 54 formed through the upper edge oieach partition I6 and communicating with the opening 3! permits the longitudinal movement of the partition past the partitions 50a, 50b, and 500 as it is being moved to its proper position while inverted.

Referring to Figs. to 14, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the tray l0 and the partitions l6 are of the same construction as in the embodiments described above. The central partition member is differently constructed and is constructed to permit slight longitudinal movement, as well as lateral pivotal movement. The central partitioning and pivoting means comprises a longitudinally extending rod 60 which is generally the same as rod in the manner in which it functions and is pivotally connected to the tray Ill. The rod has a central axial opening 6| therethrough with a longitudinal slot 62 formed through the bottom edge thereof which communicates with the opening 6|. The central partition is formed of a unitary sheet metal member 63 which is provided with slots 64 therein and one edge of each slot is knife-edged as indicated at 65' in Fig. 12. The opposite edge of the slot 64 abuts against one face of its adjacent transverse partition member l6 when in assembled position. The partitioning members H; are adapted to be positioned on the rod 60 between the slots 64 as described above.

Another frame member having a longitudinally extending upper bar 65 is adapted to be stationarily positioned within the slot 62. The member 65 has depending legs 66 which are formed with knife edges 61 along one edge thereof, and when in assembled relation the adjacent faces of members 66 bear against the adjacent faces of members 63. The knife edges 65' and 6'! are oppositely disposed, as shown in Fig. 12, and a slight longitudinal movement is imparted to the central partition 63. The members 85 and 66 remain stationary so that there is a relative movement between the knife edges 65 and 61 which serves to loosen the ice cubes from the partitioning members.

This longitudinal movement of the partitioning member 63 is efiected through a cam and pin connection between the arm 3| and the partition 63. The partition 63 is formed with an upstanding projection 68 which extends through an enlarged longitudinal slot 69 formed in the rod member 60 centrally thereof. A projection 68 has a cam slot 10 formed therein within which a transverse pin 36 as the it passes. The depending arms 32 on the lever 3| are pivotally connected to the member Gil by meansci pivot screws 33. The rod. 60 does notimovc longitudinally but as the arm It raised, the pinwill. efiect lnngitudinal. movement of the partition 63 toward the leit, viewing Figs. 10: and L2. This will loosen the ice cubes and with the lever in its; upper position the rod 6t may then be pivoted to effect a lateral movement of the partition 63 so as to eject the ice cubes in the same manner described above in connection with. other embodiments.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments described without, departing irom the spirit and substance of theinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an ice tray, a grid. assembly 20 positioned therein to form ice cube compartments,

said. grid assembly comprising transverse partitions and a central longitudinal partition, and means mounting said. longitudinal partition on said. tray for movement longitudinally and laterally in either direction.

2. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned thereinto form ice cube compartments, said grid assembly comprising a plurality of transverse partitions and a plurality of sections forming a central longitudinal partition disposed between adjacent pairs of said transverse partitions, a pivot rod pivotally connected to said tray longitudinally thereof, means connecting said sections to said rod for lateral movement in either direction from their central position upon pivoting of said rod, the connection between the pivot rod and the sections being so constructed that said sections are moved laterally in succession upon movement of said rod, and means for pivoting said rod.

3. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned therein to form ice cube compartments, said grid assembly comprising a plurality of transverse partitions and a central longitudinal partltion disposed between adjacent transverse partitions, a pivot rod extending longitudinally between the ends of said tray and pivotally connected thereto, and means connecting said 1ongitudinal partition to said rod for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and for lateral pivotal movement therewith in either direction from its central position.

4. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned therein to form ice cube compartments, I said grid assembly comprising a plurality of transverse partitions and a central longitudinal partition disposed between adjacent transverse partitions, a pivot rod extending longitudinally between the ends of said tray and pivotally con- 00 nected thereto, means connecting said longitudinal partition to said rod for lateral pivotal movement therewith in either direction from their central position, and a lever overlying said rod and pivotally connected to said rod for movement 8 from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

5. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned therein to form ice cube compartments, said grid assembly comprising a plurality 70 of transverse partitions and a central longitudinal partition disposed between adjacent transverse partitions, a pivot rod extending longitudinally between the ends of said tray and pivotally connected thereto, and means connectlog said longitudinal partition to said rod for lateral pivotal movement therewith in either di-' rection from its central position, a lever overlying said rod and pivotally connected to said rod for movement from a horizontal position to asub'stantially vertical position, and means on the lever to raise the tray from the tray support.

6. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned therein to form ice cube compartments, said grid assembly comprising a plurality of transverse partitions and a central longitudinal partition disposed between adjacent transverse partitions, a pivot rodextending longitudinally between the ends of said tray and pivotally connected thereto, means forming a slot in said rod along the under side thereof, and said'longitudinal partition having the upper edge thereof disposed in said slot for lateral pivotal movement therewith in either direction from its central position. e

7. In combination, an ice tray, a grid assembly positioned therein to form ice cube compartments, said grid assembly comprising a plurality of transverse partitions and a centrallongitudinal partition disposed between adjacent transverse partitions, a pivot rod extending longitu' dinally between the ends of said tray and pivot ally connected thereto, means forming a slot in said rod along the under side thereof, said longitudinal partition having the upper edge thereof disposed in said slot and connected thereto for longitudinal movement with respect to said'rod and for lateral pivotal movement therewith in either direction, and a stationary frame member having the upper portion also mounted within said slot and having depending portions cooperating with said longitudinal partition to free ice cubes upon longitudinal movement of said longitudinal portion, and means to effect said longitudinal partition.

HARRY E. KNUPP.

R-EFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Mar. 30, 1938 Number 

